The European Parliament has postponed its vote on the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) until November. The delay was provoked by disagreement and over 200 proposed amendments largely relating to the Investor-state Dispute System (ISDS) element of the deal, which could allow companies to sue governments if their profits are affected by national laws.
Suspension of the vote means that EU representatives will now be without guidance from parliamentarians when they enter talks. In order to bargain effectively, EU negotiators must know what elected representatives want them to achieve. In the absence of direction from the Europe’s decision-making structures, talks between the EU and the United States lack credibility and large trade union bodies, like EPSU, have now called for negotiations to cease until the democratic process has run its course.
In recent weeks MEPs have received thousands of contacts from organisations and citizens voicing opposition to central aspects of the deal. They particularly called for additional democracy to be built-in and for ISDS and public services to be excluded. Trade unions also believe that TTIP’s privatisation agenda poses a threat to workers’ rights, wages and protections.
Pressure is mounting on the bi-lateral agreement with unions, a range of other civil society groups and over two million petition signatories boosting a growing mobilisation against it, while representatives of large corporations remain amongst TTIP’s most vociferous supporters. As such, positions have become increasingly polarised, creating an open contest between the protection of public health and the environment and the promotion of corporate interests.
For a further discussion on TTIP, and the postponed vote, check out the Nevin institute’s blog: TTIP in trouble.
Public Services Day
IMPACT members and staff attending last week’s consultative council in Dublin took part in EPSU’s photo campaign against TTIP’s encroachment on public services, Hands Off Public Services! The campaign is part of EPSU’s preparations for UN World Public Services Day which takes place next Tuesday (23rd June).
